Improved washing-machine



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcEo WILLIAM IRWIN, OF NORTH CO'VENTRY, AND EDMUN GUEST, OF POTTS- TOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, (JOHN R. IRVIN ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID WILLIAM IRVIN, DEGEASED,) ASSIGNORS TO SAID VILLIAM IRI/VIN.

IMPRovEo wAsHlracinvI/icl-IlraEl Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,975, dated July 22, 1862.

To (MZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VILLIAM IRWIN, of North Coventry township, and EDMUN GUEST, of Pottstown, both of Montgomerycounty, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Vashin, g,l\Iachine.;` and we do hereby declare y the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,`and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Our invention consists of a box containing two semi-cylindrical rubbers, between which the clothes to be washed are placed, a vibrating motion in contrary directions being imparted to the rubbers, the upper one of which is so connected to levers or their equivalents as to be thereby raised or lowered when necessary. y

Our invention further consists of certain slotted plates for the reception of the journals of the upper rubber, the said plates being so constructed as to guide the journals to their proper position.

In order to enable others to make and use our invention,we will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a side view of our improved washingmachine; Fig. 2, a plan View, and Fig. 3 a vertical section, of part'of the machine.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. A

The box or reservoir A for containing the water is of semi-cylindrical form, is supported on suitable legs, b b, and has at the opposite ends projections a, between which is a platform, B, for receiving the clothes prior to submitting them to the machine and as they are withdrawn from the latter.` Within the box is the semi-cylindrical rubber D, consisting of a number of slats secured to the rounded edges of semicircular end pieces, the rubber being provided 'with journals i, arranged to turn in slots or recesses cut in the opposite ends of the box.

From each end of the rubber D projects an arm, E, and to the upper end of each arm is connected a rod, F, each rod beingv connected to a crank on the shaft G, which turns in the diagonal posts H, secured to the opposite ends ofthe box A. The same shaft G has a central crank, to which is connected one end of the rod I, the opposite end of the latter being jointed to an arm, J, which projects from the rubber K, the latter being also of a semi-cylindrical form and composed of slats attached to two semicircular end pieces. Each end of this rubber K is provided with ajournal, that of one end of the rubber being connected by a rod, L, to the short arm of the-lever M, and the opposite journal being connected by a similar rod, L, to a lever, N, the latter, as well as the lever M, being secured to a shaft, Q, which turns in suitable bearings secured to the box A.

Each journal of the rubber Kpasses through and is guided by arslot in a plate, d, one of which is secured to each end of the box A, `each plate having a portion bent to the peculiar shape shown in Fig. l.

In the first instance the rubber K is raised to the position shown in Fig. 1, by depressing the bent arm of the lever M, after which the desired quantity of water is poured into the box A, and then the clothes to be washed are deposited in the concave rubber D. rThe bent arm of the lever M is then raised, thereby permitting the rubber K to fall,- in doing which itsjournals will be guided by the bent portions of the plates d to their proper position in the slots ot' the said plates. tion is now imparted to the shaft I, the cranks of which are so arranged as to vibratethe rubbers D and K in contrary directions, the clothes being thus acted upon from above and below thoroughly kneaded, and at the same time rolled over and over, the dirt being thereby expelled from the interstices of every portion of the fabrics submitted to the combined action of the concave surface of the rubber D and convex surface of the rubber K. It will be evident that greater or less pressure may be imparted to the fabrics by raising the bent arm of the lever M, and thereby depressing the upper' rubber. When the clothes have been thoroughly cleansed, they may be readily Withdrawn from the machine, after raising A rotary ino-- the upper rubber to the position shown in of thejournnls of the rubber K, the said plates Fig. l. being so constructed as to guide the upper IVe claim as our invention and desire to serubber to its proper position, as speeied. cure by Letters Pntent A In testimony whereof we have signedonr 1. The box A,with its semi-cylindrical rubnames to this specification in the presence of bers D and K, when the latter is so connected two Subscribing witnesses. to the levers M and N, or their equivalents, WILLIAM IRWIN. as to be thereby raised and lowered, and when EDMUN GUEST. a vibrating motion is imparted to the two rnbvfitnessesz bers in contrary directions, as set forth. JNO. IV. ARMS,

2. The use of the plates d for the reception WILLIAM HOFFELFINGER. 

